Display apparatus and optical system



June 2, 1936. H, wHlTE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPTICAL SYSTEM 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 2'7, 1933 INVENTOR Henry Wale ATTORN EYS DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPTICAL SYSTEM Filed June 2'?, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 M "if ff." L lNvENToR dy l Heiz/ffy W/ue f8) ,Y n Vfb, Y mf ,Y Tfn,f Y 7 l M n Y i ATTORNEYS June Z, 1936. H wHlTE 2,042,815

DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPTICAL SYSTEM Filed June 2'?, 1935 n '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Il IP 1 Tera.

\\ INVENTOR /Mfmd ATTORN EYS June 2, `1936. H. WHlTE 2,042,815

DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPTICAL SYSTEM Filed June 27, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 .5. All? INVENTOR BY Henry z'fe June 2, 1936. H. WHITE 2,042,815

DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPTICAL SYSTEM Filed June 27, 1933 'YheetS-Sheet 5 VIII. WIIAIIIIIIIIIA u (E J8) INVENTOR wijze/2137 //e ATTORNEYS n June 2, 1.936. H. WHITE y 2,042,815

DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPTICAL SYSTEM vFiled June 27, 1933 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 j '21. 04) Iql y f 23 w 22 ff 9J rlqll...

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kw INVENTOR j Henry W/ffe ATTORN EYS June 2, 1936. H. WHITE Y DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPTICAL SYSTEM Filed June 27, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 m m m M INVENTOR Henry /f/afe BY MM/cf /v 4%/ ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE ,l

DISPLAY APPARATUS AND OPTICAL SYSTEM Henry White, New York, N. Y., assgnor, by mesne assignments, to Lester Hofheimer, New York, N. Y.

Application June 27, 1933, Serial No. 677,842

(Cl. 88-27l continuously or intermittently acting motor driven means. f

9 Claims.

My present invention considered from one aspect relates to the provision of a display apparatus, particularly intended for advertising purposes and of the type in which an image of the object to be displayed is projected upon a screen.v

More particularly, the invention relates to a device 'of this character in which the size of the image on the screen is continuously varied while maintaining the image in proper focus at all l times. By the simple expedient of continuously projection, magnification and diminution of an or intermittently varying the size of the image, image 0n a screen. the observer obtains an illusion of motion which Another object of the invention therefore is compels observation of the display sign. The to provide an optical system in which the. magoptical eifect produced by projecting a small nication or diminution of the image of an object l image on the screen and then progressively inagmay be effected without varying the distance nifying it until it nearly covers the screen is between the object and the image and While quite similar to the optical effect which would always keeping the object in focus. Such a sysbe produced if .the image were actually moved stem of course finds a wide field of usefulness in toward the observer and of course the reverse is connection with photographic and telescopic true when the fully magnied image diminishes apparatus and eliminates thel need for the double in size. adjustments usually required, one to eect inag- Another object of the invention is to provide nication and the other to adjust the focus. an automatically operated display sign of this In accordance with a preferred embodiment character in which the images of a plurality of of the invention, the optical system includes a advertisingV or display devices are successively pair of reciprocally compensating lenses simulprojected on the screen and caused to vary in taneously movable toward or away from each size. A typical method of operation is to proother and means for synchronizing the relative ject an image without substantial magnifcamovement of the lenses with respect to each tion which is then enlarged until the limit of other along a common axis. These lenses are magnification is reached and then gradually redisposed between the object and the image and duced to its original size whereupon another obinterlocked to compel simultaneous movement ject is shifted into the path of the projecting thereof. The relative rates of movement of the apparatus and a similar treatment of the image lenses toward or away from each other is so is effected on the screen. automatically predetermined that the image of Another object of the invention is to accomthe object may be magnified or reduced in size by pany the continuous or intermittent magnificaeffecting relative advance or separation of the tion or diminution of the image with an interlenses yet remains always in focus. mittently or continuously changing light modi- It should be understood at the outset that the fying device designed to kaleidoscopically or relative rates of movement of the lenses to effect otherwise variably color the image during the the reciprocal compensation desired will depend entire period of its projection. upon the nature of the lenses themselves which Another object is to provide apparatus of the may be identical or may have different optical character above noted in which the screen itself characteristics. In the sign apparatus the opmay form part of a relatively compact box or tical characteristics of the two lenses being casing which may be mounted upon a store known, their relative rates of movement may be counter or in a store window and with all the conveniently calculatedV and a cam or equivamechanism contained within the box save only lent mechanism designed for shifting one lens the projecting wire and attachment plug for fairly rapidly in one direction as the other is connecting the driving motor of the mechanism shifted fairly slowly in the other direction to to the source of current. effect the requisite reciprocal compensation and As suggested in the preceding object,` the to keep the image always in focus regardless apparatus is preferably fully automatic in opof the extent of magnification. eration, the image magnification and reduction, Another object of the invention is to provide the color variation and substitution of one object an apparatus of the above type in which a plufor another being accomplished entirely through rality of objects such for instance as ordinary picture films may be successively and intermittently interposed between the source of light and the lens system and in which a light modifying means is interposed between the source of light and the film, such modifying means being preferably driven by the lm shifting and lens operating mechanism, but arranged to present a constantly varying color effect on the projected fllm.

A more specific object is to provide a. novel form of color filter in which a continuous shower of colored particles gives a kaleidoscopic effect. In any event it is preferred that while the color controlling mechanism be driven from the same means which actuates the lenses and the object carrying means, there shall be no true synchronlzatlon between the coloring means and the other moving parts of the apparatus so that a continuously changing color eiect is at all times produced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a special type of image carrying film preferably in the nature of a disk having a plurality of radially disposed film frames near its periphery and equipped with means for mounting and centering it with respect to a carrier device. The use of such a. disk like lm with the images to be projected' near its periphery permits th"`e ready interchange of other lm disks bea-ring other pictures to be displayed. It may permit the store keeper using the display device to select any suitable film disk for advertising a particular product in which he may be specializing or it may permit the lessor of the display machines to supply his lessees with new lms at regular intervals.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display apparatus of simple, rugged, durable, compact, inexpensive construction, fully automatic and fool-proof in operation and so constructed that new display elements may be rapidly interchanged for the old ones.

The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a display cabinet embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view thereof showing the internal mechanism in dotted lines,

Fig. v4 is a rear elevational view of the projecting mechanism,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the projecting mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on the line 6--6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 81s a top plan view of the ratchet mechanism on the line 8-8 of Fis. 7,

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fis. 7,

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line I0-I0 of Fig. '1,

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the lens operating cam structure,

Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of the replaceable film units,

Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of a similar system utilizing a dierent type of kaleidoscopic light modifying means.

Fig. 14 is a greatly enlargedv view on the line I4-I4 of Fig. 13,

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view on the line |5-I5 of Fig. 14, and

Figs. 16, 1'1 and 18 are diagrammatic illustrations of the operation of the optical system.

Referring rst to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings I have used the reference numeral I0 to designate a cabinet of generally rectangular shape having a somewhat enlarged lower portion II and a slightly reduced upper portion I2. Secured in the forward wall of the upper cabinet portion I2 is a screen I3. In Fig. 1 I have indicated at I4 the size of an image projected on the screen and in dotted lines at I5 the extent to which this image may be magnified while keeping it in focus.

In order to obtain convenient access to the mechanism within the cabinet, the latter is preferably provided with a hinged cover I6 and with a hinged back I1 so that the cabinet may be fully opened for purpose of inspection, repair or interchange of films.

It will be understood that the cabinet is merely typical of one convenient means for housing the display apparatus and mounting the screen and that various other types of cabinets might be used.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 12 of the drawings, numeral I8 represents the bottom of the casing upon which ls mounted a base I9 for an electric motor 20. Also mounted upon the bottom of the casing is an inverted U-shaped bracket 2| which at one corner mounts a hollow upstanding post 22 in which a standard 23 is vertically adjusted,

the standard being locked in adjusted position by set' screws 24. An angularly disposed arm 25 includes a tail piece 26 adjustably mounted in a block 21 xed to the upper end of the standard 23 and carrying a set screw 28 for locking the tail piece in any desired position of adjustment. The free end of the arm 25 carries an adjustable mounting 29 for a mirror 30. This mirror is disposed above a vertical cylinder 94 also mounted on the bracket 2i in a manner to be later described and in which are axially movable, the rel ciprocally compensating lenses 33 and 34 (Fig. 7). The mirror is inclined approximately at a 45 angle so that the light passing through the lenses will be reflected from the mirror onto the screen.

A generally L-shaped bracket 35 also rising from the base I8 has its upper horizontally disposed arm provided with a projection 36 adapted to support a prism 31 of triangular cross section having a reflective backing 38. This prism transmits light from a light source 39 upwardly through compensating lenses 33 and 34. Means is provided for supporting a lm disk 40 of the character shown in Fig. l2, between the prism and the lower lens 34 and for successively moving the radially disposed object carrying portions 4I of such film, into position for projection upon the screen.

An upwardly facing socket member 42 includes a flange 43 screwed or otherwise secured to the base I8. Within this socket member is an upwardly facing tapered bearing pin 45. Pin 45 serves as a thrust bearing for the lower end of a rotatable vertically disposed spindle or shaft 46 which as will be more fully hereinafter described, carries means for supporting the ilm and is operatively connected to a ratchet and pawl mechanism for intermittently effecting movement of the film.

Encircling the post 42 and secured thereto as by a set screw 41 is a hollow post 48 which near its top is provided with a relatively wide iiange 49. Above the flange, the post 48 is lprovided with a narrow seat 5U to support an oscillatable circular member 5I having diametrically opposite radial extensions |22 and I 23 (Fig. 8), this disk being restrained against upward movement by the outwardly extending flange 52 of a sleeve member 53, extending into the hollow post 48 andk secured thereto as by a set screw 54. Fixed upon the lower end of the spindle 46 as by set screw 55 is a collar 56 restrained against upward movement by the lower end of the sleeve 53. Seating upon the flange 52 are a pair of superimposed ratchet wheels 51 and 58 similarly toothed but having their teeth facing in opposite directions and vertically aligned with each other. These ratchet wheels are secured together by screws 59 and are keyed to the spindle 46 by a set screw 60.v

A stud 6| extending downwardly from disk projection |23 is anchored to one end of a coiled expansion spring 62, the other end of this spring being anchored by any suitable means (not shown) to the post 48 and the spring being substantially housed between the bottom of the flange 49 and a protective disk 63 having a hub portion 64 secured by set screw 65 to the post 48.

Above the ratchet wheels 51 and 58 a sleeve member 66 is secured as by set screw 61 to the spindle 46. A flange 68 at the upper end of the sleeve 66 is adapted to support thelower member of a pair of lm clamping plates 69 and 10 between which the lm 40 is disposed. Two plates 69 and 10 hold the lm disk perfectly at, restraining it against warping and are provided with openings 1|- therein registering with the display frames 4| of the film disk. Preferably the lower film clamping plate 69 is rigidly secured to flange 68 by screws 69a and is provided with spaced upstanding' studs 12 (Figs. 6 and '7) passing through registering `openings in the film and in the upper plate 10. It will of course be understood that the two film clamping disks as well as the film itself are provided with center openingsV which slip over the spindlev46 and that the upper clamping plate is forced into clamping position by a nut 13 having a reduced threaded shank 14 screwed into a socket 15 in the top of the spindle 46. Washers such as 13a may be arranged under the knob 13'to compensate for slight vertical adjustments of the film clamping plates to bring the f film into correct initial focus. Such adjustments are made 'permanent by resetting of the set screw 61.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the lm carrying disks are clamped tightly against'the top of the sleeve 66 so that the sleeve,

the film carrying elements, the shaft and the ratchet wheels 51 and 58 turn as a unit.

The upper horizontal portion of the L-shaped bracket 35 is provided with an opening 16 therein receiving a hub 11. This hub has a flanged upper end 18 to which are secured a pair of clampingY disks 19 and 80 clamping between them a color modifier in the form of a translucent color disk 8| of greater diameter than the clamping disks. Disk 8| is of the same size as the lm disk 10 and is secured together with its clamping vmembers 19 and .80 by screws 82 to the flange 18 vof the hub 1,11 'Ihe iange of the hub rests on the upper face of the bracket 35. An annular spacer 83 encircles the hub 11 between the bracket 35 and the hub 84 of a worm wheel 85, the latter being keyed to the hub 11 by a set screw 86.

Before describing the driving mechanism for this worm wheel which serves to continuously rotate color lter 8|, or describing the intermittent pawl actuation of the ratchet wheels 51 and 58 which move the image carrying film, reference may be had to Figs. 5, '1, 10 and 11 for an understanding of the lens mounting and actuating means.

A threaded socket member 90 fixed upon the bracket 2| receives the lower threaded end of a collar 9| which is fixed to an upstanding cylindrical member 92 having a vertical slot 93 therein extending nearly from end to end thereof. An outer cylinder member 94` carries an annular worm gear 95 near its lower end and is fixed with respect to a cylinder 96 disposed between the sleeves 92 and 94. The sleeve member 96 is provided with cam grooves 91 and the carriages 98 and 99 for the lenses 33 and 34 are each provided with studs |00 working through the vertical slot 93 in the wall of the inner cylinder 92 and having rollers |0| on their outer ends travelling in the cam grooves 91.

The so-called lens carriages may be of any desired construction and typically include relatively long sleeve portions |02, inwardly turned portions of which coact with threaded collars |03 to clamp the lenses in position. The elongated sleeve members 98 and 99 minimize the danger of the lens carriages canting as they are shifted axially within the inner cylinder 92. It will be 25 readily seen that as the cylinder 94 is rotated, the cylinder 96 will turn with it and since the lens carriages are restrained against rotation by they studs |00 which' work in the vertical slot 93 of the fixed cylinder 92, the cam grooves will act 30 tinuous so that Acontinuous rotation of the outer 35 cylinder 94 operates to continuously move the lenses in relatively opposite directions. The rotatable sleeves 94, 96 which if desired might be made of la single piece of material, are restrained against upward movement by a collar |04 secured by screw 905 to the projecting upper end of the fixedsleeve 92. At their lower ends the rotatable sleeves 94, 96 have bearings upon a shoulder |06 of the collar 9|.

Means is provided for continuously rotating the gear 95 and intermittently rotatably, advancing the lm disk 40 one step after a complete cycle of movement of the lenses and continuously driving the light modifier or color screen 8|.

The drive from the motor 20 to the worm gear 95 most clearly appears in Fig'. 4. It will be observed that the motor shaft |01 is coupled to an axially aligned shaft |08 by a clutch |09. Shaft 08 has suitable bearings at |09 in the bracket 35 and carries a Worm ||0 meshing with the worm wheel to eiiect continuous rotation of the light modifying disk 8|. At the end opposite the clutch, shaft |08 has a pinion I fixed thereto. This pinion operates through an idler gear ||2 to drive a pinion 3 fixed upon the end of a shaft I4, journalled in suitable bearing brackets 5, supported on a. bracket 2|. Shaft ||4 carries a worm ||6 in continuous engagement with the worm wheel and operable to cause continuous uni-directional driving of the rotatin the cam ls most clearly apparent from Fig. of the drawings, the dotted line position of the cam and rocker arm showing the rocker arm swung outwardly and about to be released. On the lower end of the rock shaft 8 is a second rocker arm |2I, the latter arm engaging the radial extension |22 of the plate 5|. The opposite plate extension |23 mounts an upwardly extending stud |24. The function of the rocker arm |2I is to oscillate the element 5| against the action of its spring, thereby acting to store energy in the spring due to the connection of the stud Si with the end of the spring.

Mounted upon the extension |22 is a pivot pin |25 for a driving pawl |26, this pawl being urged into engagement with the teeth of the upper ratchet wheel 51 by a coiled spring 521.

Fixedly mounted upon and projecting upwardly from the ixed flange 49 are a pair of studs |28, |28 adapted to serve as fulcrums respectively for pawls |29 and |30. Pawl |29 is urged by a spring I 3| into engagement with the teeth of the upper ratchet wheel 5l and its sole function is to block retrograde movement of the ratchet wheels. The pawl |30 is pivoted intermediate its ends on the stud |28 and has its hooked detent end |33 urged against the lower ratchet wheel 58 by spring i30a. Its purpose is to prevent overthrow or overrunning of the connected ratchet wheels by the spring urged driving pawl |26. It will be understood that each of the ratchet wheels 51 and 58 have a similar number of teeth but that the teeth of the two wheels are oppositely disposed and have their radially disposed wor-:ing faces in alignment with each other.

The operation of the pawl mechanism may be followed through in 8. The full line position of the pawls shows them in their normal position of rest and the full line position of the crank arm |2| shows it in its normal position of rest and uniniuenced by the cam |20. As the cam engages the rocker arm IIS it swings the rocker arm |2| from the full line to the dotted line position of Fig. 8 thereby shifting member 5| and its extensions |22 and |23 from the full line to the dotted line position. During this movement stud 6| has been moved in a clockwise direction to tension the driving spring 62 and the pin |24 has engaged a cam face |32 on the tail of the pawl |30 to shift the hooked det-ent end |33 o! this pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the lower ratchet wheel 58 and against the action of the spring |30a. Also during this movement the driving pawl |25 has been shifted from its full line to its dotted line position; in other words it has been moved a full toothand dropped into driving engagement with the next tooth of the upper ratchet wheel.

As the rocker arm IIS rides over the peak of the cam |20 a rapid spring snap action occurs to shift a new picture 4| into position between the light source and the lenses 33, 34. This action is as follows:-Member |2| opposes no resistance to counter-clockwise movement of the member 5| under the influence of the driving spring 62. This member therefore starts to travel in a counter-clockwise direction and the driving pawl 26 starts to advance the two connected ratchet wheels with respect to which the lm clamping plates 69 and I0 are rigidy afl'lxed. Before the pawl i'26 has completed its advance of the composite ratchet wheel structure however, the cam |32 on the tail piece of the lever |30 will have been released by the pin |24 and the hooked detent end of the pawl will be swung by spring |30a against the lower ratchet wheel 58 in a position to positively block further movement of the composite ratchet wheel after paw] |26 has advanced one tooth. When this one tooth advance has been completed the pawl |29 will have again snapped behind a new tooth and the pawls |30 and |29 will be retaining the composite ratchet structure against rotation in either direction until the cam |20 again acts on the rocker arm H9.

During the time that the new image to be projected upon the screen is held stationary, the cylinder 94 will make one complete revolution, gradually magnifying the image on the screen from the size indicated at I4 (Fig. 3) to the size indicated at I5 and then gradually reducing the image to the size indicated at I4, whereupon another object film will be snapped into position and the cycle of lens movement repeated.

It is worthy oi' note that While the present system is designed to irst project the film in small size and then effect a complete magnification and compete reduction of the image, it is within the scope of my invention to resort to numerous variations of this general idea. A typical variation would be to project a small image of the forward end of a Jehicle upon the screen, increase the size of this image so that the vehicle appeared to be approaching the observer and then shift a new film into place depicting the rear end of the vehicle and by reducing the image, create the illusion ofv this vehicle moving away from the observer. In other words the mere addition of cams corresponcng to cam |29 would cause shifting of the object carrier any suitable number of times during a single revolution of cylinder 94.

The purpose of utilizing such a precise and accurate ratchet mechanism for the quick shifting of lms and positive locking of films during the projectionl thereof is necessitated by the fact that the pictures are small as compared to the size of the screen upon which they are projected and any movement of these filme during the projection or magniication or demagnication or any misalignment of the film in the rst place would seriously impair the effectiveness of the display.

In Figs. 13 to l5 inclusive I have illustrated another mechanism for coloring the image, this mechanism being more particularly designed to produce a kaleidoscopic color effect on all of the translucent or transparent parts of the image. In Fig. 13 some parts of the driving mechanism and actuating mechanism for the lenses and the picture carrying film have been omitted for the sake of clarity. In this gure, |34 represents a pulley secured upon an extension Iia of the shaft |i4 illustrated in Figs. 4 and 6. Shaft end ||4a is encircled by a sleeve |35 having a reduced end |31 cooperating with the sleeve proper to ail'ord a collar |38 and having a threaded extremity |36 upon which a nut |39 is adapted to be screwed. This nut lies between the pulley and a spring washer |40 and by adjusting the nut the tension of the washer upon a yoke member 4| may be increased or decreased. The reduced upper end of this yoke is apertured as at |42 to nt over the unthreaded reduced end of the sleeve |35 and the yoke proper is extended in the form of a relatively large eye |43 within which is rotatably mounted a collar |44, said collar having an integral annular iiange |45 at one edge and having a ring |46- pinned as at |41 to its opposite edge so that it is confined against axial movement within the eye |43.

Flange |45 is grooved as at |48 to receive the endless flexible driving belt |49 which runs around the pulley |34 at the end of the shaft extension ||4a. The flange |45 is also provided with an internal annular recess |50 therein and outwardly beyond the recess, with a second internally threaded and slightly enlarged threaded recessed portion |5|. A wheel |52 having a set of irregularly shaped internal teeth |53 is confined between a pair of transparent circular plates |54 and |55. The plates and the wheel are shaped to fit within the recess |50 and held in position by a clamping ring |56 screwed into the threaded recess extension |5|.

A handle member |51 is ,afiixed to the yoke |4| at the side of the shaft ||4a remote from the eye |43. With this handle the entire yoke structure and the rotatable ring |44 which it carries may be swung about the shaft ||4a as a center without varying the centers of the pulleys |45 and |34. The spring washer |40 of course frictionally holds the parts in any position to which they may be shifted by the handle. The purpose of the shifting is to permit swinging of the color modifying device out of the path of travel of the light passing from the source to the prism thereby permitting either white light or kaleidoscopically colored light to be used at will.

A plurality of translucent colored fragments |58 which may forv instance be bits of vari-colored broken glass, are confined within the wheel |52 by the plates |54 and |55.` The teeth |53 of the wheel are arranged at such angles with respect to the periphery of the wheel Aor with` respect to the radii of the wheel that as the wheel travels in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 15) the particles will be picked up by the teeth, some of them dropped at one point of travel of the wheel and others dropped after the wheel has travelled a further'distance so that the wheel picks up the particles, carries them toward or in some cases away beyond the top of the wheel and drops them in a shower toward the bottom of the wheel.

Of course this kaleidoscopic effect is enhanced by the fact that the particles are continuously being tumbled about within the wheel, striking against each other and against other teeth as they are dropped from the carrier tooth.

In Figs. 16 and 17 I have diagrammatically illustrated the manner in which the optical systern discussed above is eifective to magnify or reduce the image of a fixed object upon a fixed screen where the distance between the screen and object always remains the same. Fig. 16 shows a position of maximum magnification, that is, with reciprocally compensating lenses 34 and 33 arranged in close juxtaposition. This view diagrammatically illustrates light rays from the object A, passing through the lens 33 and diverging. Such of these rays as also pass through the lens 33 are directed toward the screen S uponv which the image Mis projected, the image in this instance being considerably magnified.

Assume however that it is desired to reduce the size of the image, Fig. 17 shows lens 34 moved closer to the object and lens 33 moved closer to the screen where the ,image is to be projected. Here it will be seen that a less magnified image is produced upon the screen.

Fig. 18 shows an even smaller image produced upon the screen by moving lens 34 still closer to the object and lens 33 still closer to the screen.

In accordance with my invention these reciprocally compensating lenses are automatically actuated towardl or away from each other in such 5 fashion that the image is always kept in focus while magnification or demagniiication thereof is taking place. It will be obvious by comparison of Figs. 16, 17 and 18, that the range of movement of the lens 33 is much less than the range of movement of the lens 34 and this difference in the relative rate of movement of the lens (whether the lenses be operated by a motor as in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, or be operated by hand) is a matter to be determined by the particular optical characteristics of the two lenses used, it being essential however that the movement of both lenses either toward each other or away from each other, be synchronized and that the relative rates of movement of thelenses be so proportioned that the focus is always maintained.

The diagrammatic showing of Figs. 16 to 18 illustrates a system in which the image may be magnified to approximately three times its origi- 25 nal size. By the selection of proper lenses and by providing proper controlling cams to synchronize the movement thereof, greater magnification or diminution may of course be obtained.

In photographic work the advantage of such a 30 lens system will be obvious. For instance in photographing Lwild animals with a telescopic camera, the use of my improved system will make it possible for the cameraman to obtain the effect of gradually approaching very close to the animal, 35 while in fact the camera remains stationary. For telescopic work, such a system incorporated in a telescope would completely obviate the need for adjusting the eye piece whenever some object in the field of the telescope was to be carefully inspected. That is to say, having found an object in the eld which the observer desires to examine very closely, it would merely be necessary to turn a handle or other control element and thereby simultaneously move the reciprocally compensating magnifying lenses without any need for adjusting the eye piece.

In Fig. 17 where only a small area of the lens 34 is effective to transmit light to the lens 33, a smaller image is produced and in Fig. 18 where a lesser portion of the light passing through the lens 34 will be transmitted by the lens 33, they image is still smaller. The point about this is that the intensity of the light which forms the image will be substantially invariant since magnification of the image is accompanied by the use of a greater effective area of the lens 34.

I have disclosed the use of a film having a plurality of pictures thereon which serve as the images" projected on the screen. It is to be understood however that a suitable illuminated object of any character might be utilized and furthermore that the object may itself be luminous. A typical illustration of this would be the use of a very small neon sign, the image of which would 65 be projected upon the screen.

In lieu of using a circular film I also contemplate the use of slide carriers having windows corresponding to the windows of the present application but with slidably removable outer ends to 70 permit the convenient removal and replacement of individual object members in the frame such for instance as individual films or stencils or other object forming or object carrying devices.

The use of the word image in the specifica- 75 Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent iszl. An apparatus of the class described including a housing, one portion of the wall of which constitutes a screen, a light source disposed within the housing and illuminating screen, a movable object carrying mechanism and a plurality of objects carried thereby, means for actuating said carrier mechanism to successively interpose different objects between the light source and the screen, a lens system arranged between the light source and the screen and in` cluding a pair of relatively movable motor driven reciprocally compensating lenses for varying the size of the image while keeping it in focus on the screen.

2. An apparatus of the class described including a housing, one portion of the wall of which constitutes a screen, a light source disposed within the housing and illuminating screen, a movable object carrying mechanism and a plurality of objects carried thereby, means for actuating said carrier mechanism to successively interpose different objects between the light source and the screen, a lens system arranged between the light source and the screen and including a pair of relatively movable reciprocally compensating lenses for varying the size of the image while keeping it in focus on the screen, means for moving vthe lenses synchronized with the actuating means for the object carrying means.

3. An apparatus of the class described including a housing, one portion of the wall of which constitutes a screen, a light source disposed within the housing and illuminating screen, a movable object carrying mechanism and a plurality of objects carried thereby, means for intermittently actuating said carrier mechanism lto successively interpose different objects between the light source and the screen, a lens system arranged between the light source and the screen and including a pair of relatively movable reciprocally compensating lenses for varying the size of the image while keeping it in focus on the screen, lens actuating means and means for synchronizing the object shifting means and the lens actuating means.

4. An apparatus of the class described including a housing, one portion of the wall of which constitutes a screen, a light source disposed within the housing and illuminating screen, a movable object carrying mechanism and a plurality of objects carried thereby, means for intermittently actuating said carrier mechanism to successively interpose dllferent objects be,- tween the light source and the screen, a lens system arranged between the light source and the screen and including a pair of relatively movable reciprocally compensating lenses for varying the size of the image While keeping it in focus on the screen, lens actuating means and means for synchronizing the object shifting means and the lens actuating means, 'said lens actuating means being continuously operated.

5. An apparatus of the class described including a housing, one portion of the wall of which constitutes a screen, a light source disposed within the housing and illuminating screen, a movable object carrying mechanism and a pluralityiof objects carried thereby, means for intermittently actuating said carrier mechanism to successively interpose different objects between the light source and the screen, a lens system arranged between the light source and the screen and including a pair of relatively movable reciprocally compensating lenses for varying the size of the image while keeping it in focus on the screen, lens actuating means and means `for synchronizing the object shifting means and the lens actuating means, said lens actuating means including a continuously running motor for reciprocating the lenses and means controlled from the motor for shifting the object carrier after each complete cycle of movement of the lenses.

6. Apparatus as set forth inclaim 5 and wherein intermittently actuating pawl and ratchet mechanism controlled indirectly from the lens actuating mechanism, constitute the carrier shifting means.

7. In an apparatus of the class described a cylinder, means for rotating the cylinder, a pair of lens carriers arranged for axial movement within the cylinder, cam means acting on the lens carriers to cause separation of and advance of the lens carriers by rotation of the cylinder, a light source, an object carrying device, means for intermittently moving the objec't carrying device to successively interpose diiferent objects between the light source and the lenses, and means for actuating the object carrying device from the cylinder.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 and including a screen upon which an image is to be projected by the lenses and xed with respect to the light source and the particular object interposedbetween said source and the lenses, said lenses being reciprocally compensating to maintain an image of the object continuously in focus on the screen while varying the size of the image.

9. In a display apparatus a screen, a system of relatively movable lenses, an object carrying device and a plurality of objects .carried thereby, a light source, said lenses being reciprocally compensating to focus the image of the object on the screen and continuously runningmotor means for effecting continuous relative movement of the lenses to continuously vary the size of the focussed image and synchronized driving means for the lens and the object carrying member.

HENRY WHITE. 

